Snap-hook.



No. 679,088 Patented luly 23 wel.

- u. METHVEN.

SNAP HOOK.

(Application led. Apr. 4, 190)..)

(Nn Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT '@OYEETCE.

DANIEL METHVEN, OF OAKLEY, CALIFORNIA.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,088, dated J' uly 23, 1901. Application filed April 4, 1901. Serial No. 54,325. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL METHvEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakley, in the county of Contra Costa and State of California, have invented a new and useful Snap-Hook, of which the vfollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to snap-hooks, and more particularly to that class having. a spring-pressed pivoted tongue that closes the throat between the end of the hook and the shank thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel means of a simple character which will securely lock the pivoted tongue against movement when said tongue is iu operative position, and thus prevent the accidental displacement of the ring or other device secured thereby.

A further object is to construct the tongue and locking means therefor so that when the tongue is unlocked the ring secured thereby may be removed without the necessity of manually operating said tongue.

A still further object is to construct the locking means so that when in operative position it is entirely housed by the shank of the hook and there is therefore no liability of its coming into contact with anything that will accidentally operate it to unlock the tongue.

These various objects are accomplished by the construction set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, and said construction is considered the preferable one, although it will be understood that such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a snap-hook constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the tongue unlocked and open. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the snap-hook. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line X X of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of thelocking-dog.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The hook proper, as shown, comprises a shank 10, having at one end a loop 11 andat the other the usual gaff 12. The shank 10 is provided with a slot 13, that extends entirely through the same, and a keeper-tongue 14 is pivotally mounted therein by means of a pivot-pin 15, which passes through the tongue v14 intermediate its ends and is located at the end of the slot which is nearest the ga 12. The outer end of the tongue is ladapted to swing across the throat betweenthe end of the ygatf and the shank to close said throat, and its outer edge is preferably roughened, as at 16, to prevent its slipping when operated upon, as will be readily understood. The inner end 17 of the tongue is thus disposed in the slot 13, and when the outer end is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 2, said inner end will be spaced a slight distance from the adjacent end wall 18 of the slot.

Pivotally mounted within the end of the slot which is opposite to the ga l2 and intermediate its ends is a longitudinally-arranged locking dog 19, the outer edge of which is normally flush witlirthe edge of the shank 10. YThe end of the dog which is add jacent to the wall 18 of the slot carries an offset finger 20, that fits snugly in the space between the wall 18 and the end 17 of the tongue 14 when said tongue is in operative position, and thus holds it securely in place against movement. The opposite end 21 of the dog forms an operating portion which is adapted to be pressed inwardly by the thumb to withdraw the iinger 2O from its locking position, and the walls of the slot are there'- fore preferably out away, as shown at 22 in Fig. 4, to aord more ready access to said end. In order to hold both the tongue and dog in operative position and to urge them to such position when they are in inoperative relation, the spring 23 is provided. The tongue 14 is provided with a slot 24, through which the pivot-pin 15 passes, and the spring has an intermediate portion located in this slot and provided with a coil 25, that surrounds the portion of the pivot-pin passing therethrough. One end 26 of the spring bears against the end Wall of the slot 24, while the other end 27 is somewhat longer and bears in a longitudinal groove 28, arranged in the inner edge of the end 21 of the dog. By this means a single spring is employed for operating both elements.

IOO

The manner of operating the device is very simple. Assuming that it is desired to place a ring or loop in the hook, the end 2l of the lever is forced inwardly, thus moving VJthe finger 2O out of engagement, whereupon the tongue may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus opening the throat. Upon releasing the tongue it is immediately moved under the pressure of the spring back to its operative position, as is likewise the lockingdog. On the other hand, to remove a ring or loop it is only necessary to move the dog to its inoperative position, whereupon the ring may be pulled from the hook, the tongue yielding to the out-Ward pressure placed upon it.

It will thus be seen that simple means are provided for positively locking the tongue, said means being entirely housed Within the shank of the hook,so that there is no likelihood of said means being accidentally operated by coming into contact with an object. Animportant feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the inner end of the tongue With relation to the end Wall of the slot in combination With the finger ofthe locking-dog. It will be seen by referring to Fig. 2 that the finger of the dog ts snugly in the space between the tongue and the Wall of the slot, so that any outward pressure upon the tongue will be transmitted to the Wall of the slot, and the pivot of the dog will consequently be relieved of the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it will be underystoodthat various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a snap-hook, the combination With a shank carrying a hook and provided With a transverse slot, of a tongue pivoted intermediate its ends in the slot and arranged to abut at its outer end against the end of the hook, a dog pivoted intermediate its ends in that side of the slot which is opposite the hook and having an offset finger at one end which is arranged to engage over the inner end of the tongue when the same is in engagement with the hook, the other end of the dog forming an operating-handle, said dog being entirely housed within the shank when in engagement with the tongue, and a single spring engaging both the tongue and the dog to urge them into their respective engagements.

2. In a snap-hook, the combination with a shank carrying a hook at one end and provided With a transverse slot, of a tongue pivoted intermediate its ends in the slot and 'contiguous to the end thereof which is nearest the hook, the outer end of the tongue being adapted to engage the end of the hook and the inner end being spaced from the end Wall o-f the slot when said outer end is in said engagement, a dog pivoted intermediate its ends in that side of the slot which is opposite the hook, said dog having an offset finger that is arranged to fit in the space between theinner end of the tongue and the adjacent Wall of the slot to hold said tongue against movement, the other end of the dog forming an operating-handle, said dog being entirely housed Within the shank when in engagement With the tongue, and a single spring engaging both the tongue and the dog to hold them in their respective engagements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL METHVEN.

Witnesses:

JAMES J. HAIEN, CHAs. GRIBBLE. 

